Finger ring or the like



Feb 1938. J. H. WHITE ET AL 9 3 FINGER RING OR THE LI KE Filed July 21,1957 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED I STTE ATET FFICE FINGER RING OR THELIKE Application July 21, 1937, Serial No. 154,688

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a finger ring or the like and has specialreference to a mounting for a finger ring, brooch, cufi link or similararticle of jewelry which is provided with an interchangeable ordetachable plate adapted to carry a monogram, emblem, stone, or otherdecorative member. 7

More particularly this invention relates to a mounting having a seatwith a plate adapted to carry a stone, monogram, emblem, or the like,for engaging the seat, there being means fixed against movement on themounting and on the plate for detachably securing the plate on the seatoperable in its securing or detachable engagement by a relative rotativemovement between the plate and seat.

The present invention contemplates the proviv sion of a novel detachableor interchangeable setting orplate for mountings for finger rings,brooches and similar articles of jewelry with a novel construction ofmeans for locking the plate to the mounting to which it is applied in asecure manner so that accidentaldisplacement or removal of the same iseliminated.

It is desirable for jewelers, in order to alleviate to a great extentthe expense of carrying'a very substantial stock, to carry a mounting offixed design which may be ornamented to the individual taste of aprospective buyer by one of many plates carrying the desired monogram,emblem, jewel, or other decorative member. For example, the band of afinger ring or the shape of the mounting of a brooch or cuff link maymeet with the approval of'a great number of individual tastes, whereasthe color of the stone to befixed to the mounting may vary as greatly asthe number of the prospective purchasers. Then again, a prospectivepurchaser may desire several differently colored stones in keeping withthe various ensembles of the individuals wardrobe, or may have onlytemporary use for the plate be it a high school class ring or fraternalemblem for wear prior to eligibility to wear a college insignia, and itwould be most desirable and would mini-- mize expense to have a singlemounting capable of interchangeably supporting any one of the group ofstones or other decorative members de sired to be worn.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a mountingwhich is adapted to interchangeably carry one of a. number of stones,signets, or emblems or a combinationthereoi so that a substantial numberof differently decorative effects may be obtained at a minimum ofexpense. The jeweler likewise may carry a stock meeting the demands of amaximum number of individuals at a minimum of expense. Further, themanufacturer may employ the constructions as samples to the trade tominimize expense in that connection, utilizing but a minimum number toobtain a maximum of desired eifects.

In providing the individual with interchangeable decorative units for asingle mounting, it is further desirable that no mechanical assistancebe necessary in interchanging the members on the mounting. The presentinvention has for another of its objects the provision of a mounting inwhich a locked or secured position is obtained by a movement of themember to be locked or secured. Applicants haveknowledge of prior artconstructions and patents wherein the locking means employ a wrench or akey to look the decorative member to the mounting. This ordinarilyrequires more than the usual skill of thewearer and is objectionable inthat respect, and, further, that the key or wrench may become displacedor lost occasioning inconvenience even though the wearer had the skillnecessary to lock the separable members.

Applicants also have knowledge of prior art constructions and patentswherein interchangeability of the members is restricted to the shape ofthe mounting as, for example, the mounting may have a chamber or recessof a peculiar shape for receiving a setting or decorative member of thatshape. The present invention overcomes this objection and it is,therefore, a further object of this invention to provide a mountinghaving a substantially fiat seat at least over the peripheral portionthereof on which is engaged a substantially flat portion of the settingor decorative member. each individual setting to be precisely the samecontour and the settings, therefore, may vary in outline as desired.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter be moreparticularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of thecharacteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had tothe following description when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a finger ring embodying the featuresof this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the mounting of the finger ringshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the detach able plate member orsetting shown in Fig. l, the views shown in Figs. 2 and 3 showingengaging surfaces of the mounting and setting respectively;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line B6 of Fig. 2,showing the detachable plate or setting in position on the mounting; and

In this event, it is not necessary for Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig.2 showing a modified form of construction embodying'the features of thisinvention.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6inclusive thereof, the invention is shown as comprising an annular bandI 9 having a substantially rectangular enlargement H on one side thereofwith a substantially fiat seat I2 at least over the peripheral portionthereof. In the present illustration, the substantially fiat seatextends over the entire area of the face of the enlargement II although,of course, it is to be understood that it is desirable merely that aperipheral portion thereof may be substantially fiat.

An auxiliary plate I3 is mounted on the face of the enlargement II andis secured thereto preferably by means of pins I4 extending through theplate and through the enlargement H although, of course, the plate maybe soldered or otherwise secured thereto. The auxiliary plate I3 isprovided with opposed fingers I5 extending from the ends of the plate inopposite directions. In the instance of the drawing, the fingers 55 areformed integrally with the auxiliary plate is and extend flush with theouter surface thereof and, further, being of substantially less depththan the auxiliary plate I3, provide clearance between the fingers andthe seat I2. The plate I3 and extending fingers I5 are preferably formedof spring metal and preferably of a non-corrosive metal such asstainless steel.

A plate I6 of substantially the same shape as the enlargement II isprovided with a central recess I1 of substantially rectangular outline,the portion of the material bounding the smaller ends of the rectangularrecess being arcuate and undercut to provide oppositely disposed ledgesI8 which extend in a direction toward each other and are provided withnotches IBa in the faces thereof. The ledges are cut away at oppositeends to provide recesses I9 communicating with the undercut portionforming the ledges I8 to receive the fingers I5 as will hereinafter bemore fully apparent.

When it is desired to secure the plate It on the mounting, the plate I5is disposed angularly relative to a normal assembled position thereof insuch a manner that the slots or recesses I9 register with the fingersI5, the fingers being of such a width as will conveniently pass throughthe slots I9. A relative rotative movement between the plate I6 and themounting will cause the spring fingers I5 to engage the ledges I8 forsnap engagement with the notches Iila in the 'faces thereof, the ledgesoccupying a position in the space between the fingers and the seat I2.

It is preferable to'obtain a frictional engagement between the fingersI5 and ledges I8 in the manner above noted or in the provision of camsurfaces or the like when in a normal assembled position so that asecured relation may be had to guard against accidental displacement.Also, in order to properly predetermine the normal assembled position ofthe removable plate I6 with respect to the mounting, stop membersareprovided preferably integrally 'with the respective members, the sidewalls bounding the recess I? engaging the side walls of the auxiliaryplate I3.

It will be noted that the contour of the auxiliary plate I3 is polygonaland is preferably of substantially the same size and shape as therecesswith the exception that the corners are cut off to provide angularlydisposed sides 26 relative to the straight sides 2|. When disposing thedetachable plate I6 on the mounting, the side walls bounding the recessI! lie adjacent the side walls 20 of the auxiliary plate I3 and thefingers I5 are received in the recesses or slots I 9. A relativerotative movement between the plate I6 and the mounting moves thefingers I5 into snap engagement with the notches I8a of the ledge I8until the side walls bounding the recess II engage the side walls 2| ofthe auxiliary plate I3, the side walls 2I acting as a stop topredetermine the normal assembled position of the members.

The plate I6 may be provided with any type of decorative member ormembers and, as shown, a stone 22.is received in an outer recess in theplate and secured thereto in any desired manner, the stone having asignet 23 attached thereto.

The detachable plate I6 is thus detachably secured to the mountingmerely by a relative rotative movement therebetween, thus eliminatingmechanical assistance in the form of keys or Wrenches. The simplicity ofthe locking means is very desirable since the operation thereof may beperformed by those unskilled in mechanical,

manipulation. Also, aside from the simplicity of the operating parts, itdoes not require outside assistance in the form of tools which maybecome displaced or inconvenient to use.

Referring now'more particularly to Fig. '7 of t the drawing, amountingis therein shown comprising an annular band Illa having anenlargement Ila with a substantially flat seat I211 over the facethereof. A plate I3a is suitably secured as by means of pins Ma to theenlargement II a on the face of the seat I2a thereof and is pr videdwith fingers I5a for the same purpose as that previously described withreference to the same numerals. In this instance, the auxiliary plateISa is centrally recessed and the face of the seat I2a is likewiserecessed in registration therewith should it be desirable to provide astone or the like carried by a plate member which stone would project toa depth greater than that of the plate member and face of theenlargement.

The present mounting is oval in form and may readily receive a similarlycontoured member or, since the peripheral surface is flat, any member ofany shape having the locking characteristics previously described withreference to the first embodiment.

While but two embodiments of this invention are herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof maybe apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only tobe limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a jewelry mounting having a substantially fiat seat at least overthe peripheral portion thereof, a plate adapted to carry a stone, signetor the like having a substantially fiat portion for engaging said seat,and means disposed outwardly of the plane of said seat for detachablysecuring said plate on said seat, said securing means being operated tosecure and to detach said plate to and from said seat respectively by arelative movement between said plate and seat.

2. In a jewelry mounting having a substantially fiat seat at least overthe peripheral portion thereof, a plate adapted to carry a stone, signetor the like having a substantially flat portion for engaging said seat,and means on said plate cooperating with means on said mounting fordetachably securing said plate on said seat, said cooperating meansbeing disposed outwardly of the plane of said seat and being operated tosecure and to detach said plate to and from said seat respectively by arelative movement between said plate and seat.

3. In a jewelry mounting having a substantially fiat seat at least overthe peripheral portion thereof, a plate adapted to carry a stone, signetor the like having a substantially fiat por tion for engaging said seat,and resilient means on said plate engaging cooperating means on saidmounting for detachably securing said plate on said seat, said resilientmeans and said cooperating means being disposed outwardly of the planeof said seat and being operated to secure and to detach said plate toand from said seat respectively by a relative movement between saidplate and seat.

4. In a jewelry mounting having a substantially flat seat at least overthe peripheral portion thereof, a plate adapted to. carry a stone,signet or the like having a substantially flat portion for engaging saidseat, and members having snap engagement therebetween and disposed onsaid mounting and said plate for detachably securing said plate on saidseat, said snap engaging members being disposed outwardly of the planeof said seat and being operated to secure and to detac h said platetoand from said seat respectively by a relative rotative movementbetween said plate and seat.

5. In a jewelry mounting having a seat, a plate adapted to carry astone, signet or the like for engaging said seat, and means fixedagainst movement on said mounting and on said plate for detachablysecuring said plate on said seat, said fixed securing means beingoperated to secure and to detach said plate to and from said seatrespectively by .a relative'rotative movement be tween said plate andseat.

6. In a jewelry mounting having a seat, a plate adapted to carry astone, signet or the like for engaging said seat, said plate having afixed ledge extending therefrom, and means fixed against movementprojecting from said mounting for engaging said ledge for detachablysecuring said plate on said seat, said ledge and projecting means beingoperated to secure and to detach said plate to and from said seatrespectively by a relative rotative movement between said plate andseat.

'7. In a jewelry mounting having a seat, a plate adapted to carry astone, signet or the like having a portion for engaging said seat, saidplate having fixed opposed ledges extending in a direction toward eachother, and opposed fingers immovable on said mounting extending in adirection away from each other for engaging said ledges for detachablysecuring said plate on said seat, said ledges and fingers being operatedto secure and to detach said plate to and from said seat respectively bya relative rotative movement between said plate and seat.

8. In a mounting having a seat, a plate adapted to carry a stone, signetor the like having a portion for engaging said seat, said plate havingopposed ledges adjacent recesses communicating therewith, and opposedfingers on said mounting extending in a direction away from each otherfor engaging said ledges through said recesses for detachably securingsaid plate on said seat, said fingers and ledges being operated tosecure and to detach said plate to and from said seat respectively by arelative rotative movement between said plate and seat.

9. In a jewelry mounting having a substantially fiat seat at least overthe peripheral portion thereof, a plate adapted to carry a stone, signetor the like having a substantially fiat portion for engaging said seatand being wholly contained in a plane outwardly of said seat, said platehaving a ledge adjacent a communicating recess, and a finger immovablysecured on said mounting for engaging said ledge through said recess fordetachably securing said plate on saidseat, said ledge and finger beingoperated to secure and to detach said plate to and from said seatrespectively by a relative rotative movement between said plate andseat.

10. In a jewelry mounting having a substantially flat seat at least overthe peripheral portion thereof, a plate adapted to carry a stone, signetor the like having a substantially flat portion for engaging said seat,said plate lying wholly outside of the plane of said seat and having acentral recess with opposed .apertured ledges extending into saidrecess, and an auxiliary plate of spring metal secured to said mountingand having fingers extending therefrom adapted to be inserted throughthe apertures of said ledges when said first mentioned plate andmounting are angularly disposed relative to a normal assembled positionthereof, said auxiliary plate lying within the recess of said firstmentioned plate and said fingers frictionally engaging said ledges in anormal assembled position.

11. In a jewelry mounting having a seat, a plate adapted to carry astone, signet or the like having a portion of non-circular contourengaging said seat, said plate having a recess therein, and a finger onsaid mounting adapted to be inserted through said recess when said plateand mounting are angularly disposed relative to a normal assembledposition thereof, and means on said plate for frictionally engaging saidfinger in a normal assembled position.

12. In a jewelry mounting having a seat, a plate adapted to carry astone, signet or the like having a portion of non-circular contourengaging said seat, said plate having a recess therein, and a finger onsaid mounting adapted to be inserted through said recess when said plateand mounting are angularly disposed relative to a normal assembledposition thereof, means on said plate for frictionally engaging saidfinger in a normal assembled position, and stop means for predeterminingsaid normal assembled position.

13. In a jewelry mounting having a seat, a plate adapted to carry astone, signet or the like having a portion of non-circular contourengaging said seat, said plate having a recess therein, and a finger onsaid mounting adapted to be inserted through said recess when said plateand mounting are angularly disposed relative to a normal assembledposition thereof, and a ledge on said plate for frictionally engagingsaid finger in a normal assembled position.

JOSEPH H. WHITE. ALEXANDER FITZNER.

Patent No a 2,108 9521;

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION,

February 155 19580 "JOSEPH H. wHITE, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5first column, line 58, claim7, for ovable read fixed against movement;line 66, claim 8 before mounting insert jewelry; line 68 same claim,after.

having insert fixed; line 70,,- eame c1aim8 after finger'e insert orable; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with theeecorrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Officeo Signed and sealed this 29m day of March, A 1).;1.9580

Henry Van Airedale,

(Seal) Acti Goieeioner of Patents

